Marriage counseling or couples therapy is the process of spouses working with a trained professional (usually a psychologist) to resolve problems in their relationship, with the goal of saving the relationship and marriage. Marriage counseling is generally not required before getting divorced, but in some states courts have the discretion to require couples seeking a divorce to engage in marriage counseling—although this is rare. And in some states the court may order the spouses to attend marriage counseling if one spouse requests it. But because a spouse is generally entitled to a divorce on no-fault grounds (without claiming or proving fault in the breakup of the marriage), marriage counseling is not usually a significant factor in the divorce process, and if one spouse wants a divorce, it will be granted.

In Arizona, marriage counseling or couples therapy is a voluntary process where spouses work with a trained therapist to address issues in their relationship. While Arizona law does not require couples to undergo marriage counseling before filing for divorce, the courts may recommend or order counseling in certain circumstances. For example, if one spouse requests it and the court deems it appropriate, or in cases involving legal decision-making (custody) and parenting time disputes, where the court may find it beneficial for the parents to improve communication for the sake of their children. However, since Arizona is a no-fault divorce state, a spouse can obtain a divorce without the need to prove fault or the other spouse's agreement, and the refusal to participate in counseling will not prevent a divorce from being granted. The primary focus of the court is to ensure the divorce process is fair and equitable, rather than mandating reconciliation efforts.